As the LGBT community vigorously fought for marriage equality over the past several years, the NGLCC’s standpoint was firm and clear: Marriage equality is good for business. Now that the fight has been won and the nation is shifting its focus to other LGBT issues, the NGLCC continues to provide insight into the economic and business side of the movement. While most advocacy organizations form their arguments primarily on moral grounds, the NGLCC is unique in its viewpoint and expands the foundation for LGBT rights and protections.

No summer in DC is complete without the incredible migration of interns to our nation’s capital. This summer NGLCC welcomed 6 interns to the team, whose responsibilities have been fully integrated into the work NGLCC accomplishes. Working alongside their direct supervisors, summer interns have had the opportunity to offer insight on projects, gain experience working with a nonprofit organization, and develop a new social network with peers from around the world! We’ve asked the interns to reflect on their time at NGLCC and talk a bit about what they’ve learned and accomplished.

As NGLCC continues to expand its international advocacy efforts around diversity and inclusion for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT)-owned businesses, the team will begin work in the Caribbean, specifically the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic marks the fourth focus country for NGLCC under the LGBT Global Development Partnership, a strategic, public-private partnership with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Wells Fargo, MillerCoors, and other key partners.

The LGBT Business Builder, the historic new partnership between NGLCC and the U.S. Small Business Administration, is a powerful tool to strengthen the LGBT Business Community at both the local and national level.

By Deputy Head of Mission, Patrick Davies of the British Embassy
A 150-year-old British bank doesn’t immediately spring to mind as a diverse workplace. Yet while you might think the boardroom at HSBC UK would be full of stuffed shirts, Antonio Simões is working to change that, as HSBC UK’s openly gay CEO.

Two weeks ago, NGLCC’s 3rd LGBT Summit of the Americas made history in Lima, Peru. Following the inaugural LGBT Summit of the Americas in Colombia in 2012 and last year’s summit in Mexico, NGLCC was pleased to bring the third rendition of the series to Peru’s capital city. The event not only provided an unparalleled opportunity to assemble LGBT business leaders and corporate diversity professionals from across the Americas, but also served as the public launch of NGLCC’s newest international affiliate chamber, the Peruvian GLBT Chamber of Commerce (CCGLPE).

YIKES, Inc. is a web design and development certified LGBT Business Enterprise (LGBTBE) located in Philadelphia. YIKES, Inc. specializes in custom WordPress theme and plugin development, site maintenance, eCommerce, custom-built web-based applications and more. In addition to building great websites, YIKES, Inc. is dedicated to sustainable business practices by observing the triple bottom line: people, planet, profit. With these principles, YIKES, Inc. is committed to building a more socially, environmentally, and financially sustainable local economy.

Peru has a vibrant and thriving economy that has been growing for many years. As a partner country to the Obama administration’s proposed Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and with a GDP of $344 billion annually, Peru presents an attractive business opportunity for Fortune 500 companies and small businesses alike. Now, with remarkable advances and leadership within the Peruvian LGBT business community, the Andean country is ready for business with LGBT entrepreneurs.